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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

I've had a lifelong fear of figs. I blame it on my Swedish grandmother who lovingly baked sweets that she wanted her precious only young grandaughter to try. Among these treats were cookies with fresh fig filling. Though I loved grandma and appreciated her spoiling me endlessly, I couldn't stand the texture of the fig cookies. Grandma was hurt. Whenever I didn't eat what she made, she was hurt. So I ate them anyways and pretended that I liked them. Yuck. And I haven't touched figs since... until yesterday.

We have the good fortune of having a Farmer's Market near our house that is open every day (Chino Farms). It's one of those good ones too... where they grow all of their own food right there and put out whatever is ripe that day. I was there to pick up some of their famous Chino Corn when I spied a small basket of fresh figs. Hmmmm, I thought. Perhaps I'll give them a try. Mind you, it's been a good 30 years since I've had figs.

If you don't have this cookbook, it's really worth looking at. Tyler Florence is one of those chefs that I do enjoy watching on Food Network. He's a cutie, and he has some good looking recipes that are along the line of things-I'd-try. Tyler's Ultimate cookbook has loads of pictures (love that) and I think I'd make just about all of them.

The recipe involved pounding out the breasts into paillards (thin slices), which I'm a big fan of. This allows the breasts cook quickly and stay moist. Pancetta is sauteed, then the chicken, and the dressing gets a quick warm-up in the pan. That's it! Assemble with chicken, blue cheese, arugula, figs and pancetta. The sweet vinaigrette is drizzled on top, and dinner is ready!

And guess what? I loved it. I especially enjoyed the bites that involved figs. It's hard to believe that I've shunned them for so long. I would make this recipe again in a heartbeat. Though it sounds fancy, it's so simple and completely delicious.

This RecipeGirl has turned fig phobia into fig obsession. Bring on the fig recipes! Just no fig cookies, please.

I've never even had a fresh fig before. They aren't something we had growing up. But I did see some at Costco, so I should pick them up and try them! And I didn't know about that cookbook - I love his Tyler's Ultimate show, so I bet I'd love this cookbook!

Hee! You know, in this household, it's *me* who gets hurt when my grandmother doesn't eat what I made! Ha ha ha!I haven't ever tasted a fig before. We don't get fresh ones here. I've tried fig newtons as a kid but didn't like them either. The dish looks really beautiful, I can't wait to see a real fresh fig so I can try it!

well i'm glad to hear that mr florence is good for something other than talking really fast and striving to be a 30-something frat boy...this looks great, and although my experience with figs is limited to fig newtons, i think it would be delicious. :)

Lori.......This is a dish fit for a "Goddess" ......sorry I had to go there.....LOL. Forgive me.... Seriously, it does look great, and like yourself, I've never been keen on figs or prunes. Can you whip up a "prune friendly" recipe that might change my mind? This looks so deliciously complete, simple and healthy. You could say......."understated elegance" personified.

I grew up around figs, my grandfather has several fig trees in his yard so they have always been plentiful. But what's funny is, I've only eaten them as fruit, I've never actually cooked anything with them. This salad looks delicious and I bet the blue cheese tastes wonderful with the figs!

Gorgeous! My grandmother got it in her head that my favorite dessert was lemon meringue pie, which I despised with the heat of 1,000 suns. Every year, birthday after birthday, she'd make me that damn pie, and I never had the heart to tell her the truth.

Slice a cross into the top of the figs then push in a spoonful of mascarpone or ricotta. Top with a small square of dark chocolate and grill (broil) for 1 minute until the chocolate melts slightly. Voila! Dessert! Yum!

I finally tried fresh figs the other day. From my post I discovered there are over 700 varieties of figs and some are good and some are tasteless. They really look excellent in this salad. I'll have to take the juciest fogs I can find and give it a go:D

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